Education enables people to increase their potential and become engaged citizens in their communities. Though communities in Togo understand the value of education, they often lack the resources to grant their children its benefits. Over the years, residents of one village in Togo have regularly pooled their money to maintain a primary school made out of local materials like wood and thatched straw. Unfortunately the school building is not an educational venue conducive to learning. Students are subject to rain in the rainy season, wind and dust in the dry season, and sun all year round. At times, wind knocks over parts of the classroom, caving in on students and displacing them to a small church nearby.

This project will provide children with a cemented three-classroom building that will be 25.32 meters wide by 10.45 meters long. It will also provide a permanent work and living space for the school director. This structure will make a large difference in a community that primarily consists of subsistence farmers to recognize that their futures are not limited to the tradition of their fathers. As a testament to their commitment to education, residents of the village have agreed to combine their resources and manpower. They will gather sand, gravel, and water, as well as mobilize other community members to provide labor, food, and transport. Their commitment to education demonstrates that the community recognizes education as a right, not a luxury.

Note: This summary was provided by a Peace Corps Volunteer and the community administering this project.